SOAP LAKE — A routine spring cleanup turned into one of Grant County Fire District 7’s most valuable training opportunities Saturday, according to GCFD 7 officials, when firefighters partnered with the City of Soap Lake to burn out heavy weed growth in the city’s treated water holding ponds and practice wildland firefighting on a live fire.

GCFD 7 Wildland Captain Jake Friesen said the idea started as a simple request from the city.

“The city has their treated water holding ponds up there, and they asked for our help to clear them out,” Friesen said. “I was like, ‘Absolutely, because we can use that as a wildland training opportunity for our guys as well as helping the city out.’ So, it’s mutually beneficial.”

District 7 incorporated the work into its field day training, a required hands-on component for wildland firefighter Type 2 certification. Instead of practicing with tools in a parking lot, firefighters were able to dig a fire line, ignite fuels and mop up real hot spots.

“Having a live burn available just increases realism,” Friesen said. “They actually get to go in after the fire is done and mop up and see what an actual hot spot looks like.”

Firefighters used drip torches and hand tools to burn out one of the city’s six rapid infusion beds, large evaporation ponds on the hill above town. The vegetation there grows quickly due to moisture, creating a recurring maintenance challenge for the city.

Soap Lake Public Works Director Eli Olson said the partnership saved his crew significant time and eliminated the need for chemicals.

“It’s the easiest way to mitigate the weeds in those beds,” Olson said. “We would have either burned them or sprayed them or mowed them, but the burning is a more permanent solution.”

Olson estimated about 20 firefighters participated and offered thanks to the district.

“I would like to thank all of the firefighters,” Olson said. “And give a special thanks to Jake (Friesen) and Chief (Erick) Brittain.”

The training also gave GCFD 7 an early look at this year’s fire conditions.

“We learned how dry the fuels are currently in our county,” Friesen said. “It gave us a good look at what we’re expecting and how dangerous things can be if we have a fire lose control somewhere.”

A second burn is planned for May 2; this time focused solely on prescribed fire rather than trainee instruction. Friesen said multiple agencies have been invited, including Fire Districts 3, 8, 12 and 13, along with Ephrata Fire.

“It’ll just be us focusing on burning the weeds out and making sure it stays controlled and in that area, because right now, our fuels are primed and ready to ignite this year,” he said. “The more hands-on deck we have, the faster we can burn.”

    On Saturday, Grant County Fire District 7 firefighters work on containing a controlled burn with drip torches and hand tools. The City of Soap Lake partnered with the fire district to remove growth at the city's treated water holding ponds.
  

    Grant County Fire District 7 held a field training day for firefighter Type 2 certification Saturday. The district will be hosting another on May 2.